ZipPicks Awards
Best Mexican in Lincoln Square
Best Hidden Gem Restaurants in Lincoln Square
Best Cheap Mexican Food in Lincoln Square
Master Critic Review
El Xangarrito
8.4
A tiny, BYOB neighborhood room that leans into scratch-made Mexican cooking where mole and saucy plates are the draw, not just tacos. The best move is to come hungry, pick one mole-forward entrée, and add a taco order for balance.
Must-Try Dishes:
Steak enchiladas in mole, Salmon en mole, Sweet plantains with crema
Scores:
Value: 7.6
Service: 8.2
Consistency: 8.6
Food Quality: 8.9
Atmosphere: 7.1
Cultural Relevance: 8.1
What makes it special: Mole-centric, scratch-cooking in an intimate BYOB setting.
Who should go: Mole lovers and date-night diners
When to visit: Weeknight dinner for easiest seating
What to order: Mole entrée, al pastor tacos, plantains
Insider tip: Bring a bottle and prioritize one mole dish per table.
Logistics & Planning
Parking: Street parking on nearby residential blocks; generally manageable on weeknights but can be tight after 6pm on weekends.
Dress code: Smart casual. Jeans are fine, but the intimate room leans slightly dressy for date nights.
Noise level: Low to moderate — small room with close tables, but conversation-friendly.
Weekend wait: 30–60 minutes without a reservation due to the very small dining room.
Weekday lunch: Not applicable — dinner-focused operation.
Dietary Options
Vegetarian options: Yes — several vegetable-forward dishes and sides can be ordered as full plates.
Vegan options: Limited — possible with careful ordering, but many signature dishes rely on dairy or meat-based sauces.
Gluten-free options: Mostly — many dishes are corn-based, but sauces should be confirmed with staff.
Good to Know
Is this good for a first date? Yes — the intimate BYOB setting and shareable plates create an easy, conversation-driven date-night flow, especially if you enjoy slower, saucy dishes.
Can I get a table without a reservation? Sometimes on weeknights if you arrive early, but reservations are strongly recommended due to the limited seating.
Is it kid-friendly? Not ideal — the small room, slower pacing, and flavor-forward menu skew toward adults rather than kids.
Best For
Better for: Scratch-made mole dishes, thoughtful plating, and a focused, sit-down Mexican dinner experience rather than taco-centric eating.
Skip if: You want fast tacos, large groups, or a loud, high-energy room — larger, more casual Mexican spots will fit better.